Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely young daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.

Federal Website Had Military Ballot Deadline Error for Wisconsin Voters

MacIver News Service | September 25, 2012 U

[Madison, Wisc...] The Federal Voting Assistance Program website published an incorrect deadline for the return of military ballots in Wisconsin. Had this error not been corrected, thousands of Wisconsin servicemen and women could have been disenfranchised in this key swing state this November.

The FVAB website incorrectly stated ballots must be returned by November 16. The actual deadline is 4 p.m. November 9. Any military ballots received in that intervening week would not have been counted by local and state election officials.

MacIver News Service contacted the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board about the error on Tuesday and requested comment.

"All Wisconsin absentee ballots are due by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election. The FVAP site was incorrect," said Reid Magney, GAB spokesman in an emailed response to the inquiry.

Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day, which in 2012 is Tuesday, November 6.

According to their website, The FVAP provides U.S. citizens worldwide a broad range of non-partisan information and assistance to facilitate their participation in the democratic process - regardless of where they work or live. The FVAP also administers the Federal responsibilities of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which designates armed forces recruiting offices nationwide as voter registration agencies allowing eligible U.S. citizens to apply for voter registration, or apply to change voter registration data.

This is not the first issue with military voting to arise in Wisconsin.

For the first time since 1946, the Primary election was held in August here. Previously, primaries for state office and the President were held in September.

State officials changed the law to move it to the second Tuesday in August this year so Wisconsin could comply with a federal law which is supposed to ensure military and overseas voters enough time to vote by absentee ballot.

Even so, during the Presidential Primary, the GAB had to get a "federal consent decree" to allow more time for military ballots to be counted after 65 clerks failed to send out absentee ballots to military voters in time.

One Afghan War Veteran told MNS 10 days (the time between the postmark and delivery deadlines originally listed on the FVAP site) is more than enough time for mail to get from Afghanistan to Wisconsin. However, it is highly unlikely for a letter to get from there to here in a mere 3 days, which is what would need to happen if a military voter sent his ballot in on Election Day.

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